A New Hampshire man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to intimidate and harass local journalists after their outlet published a story that criticized a local businessman.
Tucker Cockerline was sentenced on August 27 in federal court in Boston to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release, the U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts said Thursday.
Cockerline, 33, of Salem, New Hampshire, was part of a group that harassed and intimidated two local journalists. They spray-painted threats and vulgar language on the homes of a reporter, her parents and her editor, according to prosecutors. The group also threw rocks and bricks through the windows of some of the homes, prosecutors said.
The harassment started after reporter Lauren Chooljian, with New Hampshire Public Radio, published a story in March 2022, detailing sexual misconduct allegations against businessman Eric Spofford.
A month after the story was published, a home where Chooljian used to live, as well as her parents’ home and the home of her editor were vandalized.
Cockerline pleaded guilty in federal court in December 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel of interstate commerce, according to a Department of Justice press release.
Three other men — Eric Labarge, Michael Waselchuck and Keenan Saniatan — have been indicted in connection to the harassment.
Both Labarge and Waselchuck have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, and Saniatan is expected to plead guilty in federal court this week, prosecutors said.
